Keep Healthy During The Holidays – On and Off the Yoga Mat
After seeing many of my extended family come down with the sniffles over the Turkey-Day holiday (aka Thanksgiving), I realized it might be time to share some of what I’ve learned about keeping well.
The first key is hygiene.
While you may think that viruses fly through the air and attack you, they often have an easer route… the finger tip express.
When you touch a virus-contaminated surface with your hands and later touch your face with those same hands, you’re giving the viruses a free ride to your body.
Your nose and eyes are an easy path to your sinuses, where viruses can multiply and possibly make you sick.
Fortunately, there are some easy ways to defend yourself.
Most importantly, wash your hands frequently with natural soap.
Antibacterial soaps won’t kill viruses and may contribute to antibiotic resistance. They can also be damaging to your skin.
So your best bet is to use natural soaps and wash thoroughly. The CDC recommends washing for at least 20 seconds at a time.
Use warm water, plenty of friction, and remember to clean under and round your nails (viruses and bacteria love to hide under your nails).
Rinse well with running water.
Use an air dryer or clean towel to dry your hands (paper towels are best), and avoid re-contaminating your hands by using a paper towel to turn off the faucet (especially in public restrooms).
In a pinch, alcohol based hand sanitizers help but aren’t as effective as thoroughly washing your hands.
And remember to keep your fingers out of your eyes and nose.
Next, clean your sinuses
By cleaning out your sinuses you can reduce the amount of bacteria and viruses in your sinuses and make it easier for your immune system to keep you in top health.
My favorite approach is using a facial dip, plunging my face in a bowl of clean, warm, salty water and blowing bubbles.
Ok, I draw in the water then blow it out.
It works really well and also helps with seasonal allergies.
There is the added benefit of washing out my eyes at the start before the water gets mucky.
Some other alternatives are neti pots and sinus washing kits.
For general maintenance, you can clean your sinuses once or twice daily.
If you’re sick, experiencing allergies, or have been around sick people, clean your sinuses more often.
Finally, clean the objects you touch frequently – especially if someone you live or work with is sick.
That means towels (especially handtowels), doornobs, light switches, and so on.
Even yoga mats.
If you attend a yoga class, bring your own mat unless you know that the mats are cleaned between uses. This is particularly important if anyone using the mats is ill.
In a pinch, you can use one of the studio mats and place a clean towel between your face and the mat, and wash your hands thoroughly after practice.
These simple hygiene techniques will go a long way toward keeping you healthy this season.
Other ways to improve your health with yoga:
How to Benefit from the Yoga-GABA Study
The Ancient Yoga Secret to Washing Your Hands
Sign up for the free audio series "7 Ancient Yoga Secrets to Modern Healing"
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Keep your body clean, not only in the outside, but inside too. This is kriyá!
Great article!
Nice bog you have here. I pretty much lurk the internet when I’m bored and read all I can about the organic lifestyle, but I really liked you view on things. I’ll bookmark the site and subscribe to the feed!